Stereotype-plate-casting box.



' which then forms the printing plate.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. r

AMANDUS H. CRUSE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE AND 00., OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEREOTYPE-PLATE-CASTING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 18, 1915. Serial No. 15,277.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMANDUS H. CRUsE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype-Plate-Casting Boxes, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.i

This invention relates to certain improvements in casting boxes,particularly casting boxes for casting the semicylindrical stereotype,plates used in rotary printing machines. These plates as now producedare cast from a prepared matrix or'mold, this matrix being positioned inthe casting apparatus and the metal cast against the matrix. When thematrix is stripped from the casting, the impressions of the matrix arefound to be produced in the casting,

11 order to produce a plate of such character that the straight edges donot have to be trimmed or finished, it has been customary to use amatrix having an edge or bolster extending along the straight edges bywhich the matrix is clamped in the mold, this bolster being formed in aplane offset from the type surface of the matrix. When the matrix is inposition in the mold, this bolster is offset from the mold body, andunless backed up, would be crushed fiat by the weight of metal used inmaking the cast.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved backingconstruction by which a matrix having such offset bolster may be clampedin position and suitably backed up without the necessity of placing thebacking in position by hand, the positioning of the side gages alsopositioning the backing.

For a clear understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of aportion of a casting box shown partly in section and with certain partsbroken away to more clearly show the construction; Fig. 2 is a crosssection showing a part of the mold with the side gages in open position;Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the side gages partially closed, andFig. 4 is a similar section showing the side gages in closed positionand the matrix backing strip in place.

have to be finished. It is provided for this R purpose with a portion 3along its straight edges offset from the plane of the type surface ofthe matrix, this ofiset portion form ing what is known as a bolster orclamping.

edge, this edge, in the particular matrix shown, being a wide edge. Thisform of matrix, as is well known in the art, produces a plate thestraight edges of which do not have to be trimmed.

Casting boxes for casting stereotype plates 7 are provided with sidegages 4: which, when in closed position, operate to close the straightsides of the mold, and at the same time to clamp the matrix in position,these side gages determining the thickness of the plate. These sidegages extend along the straight sides of the mold and may be posi- 1tioned in various ways. In apparatus embodying the invention in its bestform, for reasons hereinafter appearing, these side gages will becarried in holders 5 which are pivotally mounted on the mold body at 6,in any suitable manner, as for instance by hinges 7, appropriatelysecured to the mold body.

In machines constructed in accordance with the invention, there will beprovided a matrix back which, when in position, will lie between themold body and the bolster of the matrix, as shown in Fig. 4, so as toback up the matrix and prevent it from being crushed, and acting toclamp the bolster in position against the side gages. This backing ispositioned so that it may be moved into position by the closing of theside gages, and in the best constructions, furthermore, this backingwill be resiliently? mounted so that it will readily position itselfbetween the mold body and the matrix and hold the matrix against theside gage or clamp when the latter is closed- In the particularconstruction illustrated, this matrix back comprises a bar or strip 8,preferably having a rounded end 9 so as to more readily position itself.This bar 9 is carried by a plurality of springs 10secured to the sidegage 4 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 11 passing throughthe side gage and holding the springs in position.

lVhile but one side of the box has been shown, it will be understoodthat the construction described will be duplicated on the other side ofthe box.

As will be apparent from the construction described, the'backing beingsecured to and carried by the swinging side gage, is automaticallypositioned when the gage is swung to closing position. The end of theside gage as it is swung, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, passes outside theedges ofthe matrix, and the resiliently mounted back first engages themold body and slides down on it behind the bolster of the matrix. As itso slides, theside gage comes into the position shown in Fig. 4, and theback forces the matrix against the side gage and effectively clamps itin position. "With this construction, therefore, hand positioning of thebacking is rendered unnecessary and a matrix can be readily and quicklysecured in position and held clamped.

Certain changes and variations may be.

made in the construction illustrated and described for efiecting thepurposes of the invention, and it is understood that the invention isnot limited to the specific form thus shown and described.

That is claimed is:

1. In a casting box, the combination with the mold, of a side gage, anda matrix back movable with the gage and arranged to position itselfbetween the edge of the matrix and the mold and hold the matrix edge outof the plane of the matrix body when the I gage is moved to closedposition.

2. In a casting box, the combination with the mold, of a side gage, anda resiliently mounted matrix back movable therewith and arranged toposition itself between the edge Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor of the matrix and the mold and hold the edge of the matrix out ofthe plane of the 'matrix body when the gage is moved to side gage andpositioning itself between the,

edge of the matrix and the mold when the gage is swung to closedposition.

4.;In a casting box, the. combination with the. mold, of a side gage,and a spring actuated matrix back carried by the gage and arranged toposition itself between the mold body and the edge of the matrix whenthe gage is moved to closed position. 7 V r 5. In, a casting box, thecombination with the mold, of a pivoted side gage, a matrix backing bar,and a plurality of springs carried by the gage on which the bar ismounted, said bar being arranged toposition itself between the mold bodyand the edge of the matrix when the gage is swung to closed position.

6. In a casting box, the combination with the mold, of a pivoted sidegage, and a spring-mounted matrix back carried by the gage and acting toengage the mold body hehind the matrix and then engage the matrix andclamp it against the side gage when the gage is swung to closedposition.

7. In a casting box, the combination with a mold, of a side gage, amatrix having a bolster, a matrix-back movable with the gage to matrixclamping position, and arranged to position itself between the matrixbolster and the mold as the gage moves to closing position and acting tohold the matrix bo1- 3 ster out of the plane of the matrix body.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesess.

AMANDUS H. CRUISE. Witnesses:

RICHARD KELLY, RICHARD H. WRIGHT.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

